WVU (21-7, 8-4 Big 12) lost its first series of the season with a tough loss to UCF in Morgantown. The Mountaineers lost, 5-1, and gave up four runs in the sixth inning after committing two errors. The Mountaineers’ pitching staff allowed one earned run, and they only manufactured one run on offense. It was a tough loss to swallow, as they had a chance to get out of the sixth inning unscathed. Read more: WVU drops first series of the season with 5-1 loss to UCF.
Early innings
The ball was not popping off the bat as well as it had in the first two games of the series. The overcast, chilly, 50-degree weather impacted the game and attendance on Easter Sunday for the rubber match of the series. Chansen Cole got off to a rocky start, as Andrew Williamson hit a 422-foot home run in UCF’s second plate appearance in the game. It was Williamson’s third home run of the series, after belting two on Friday night. Cole was stingy after that lone run and hit.
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Camden Wicker started for the Knights and was just as stingy as Cole. He struck out two in the first inning, making quick work of the top of the Mountaineers’ lineup. Cole got a strikeout in his second consecutive inning to end the top of the second, making quick work with a nine-pitch inning.
Wicker gave up his first hit of the game to Matthew Graveline in the bottom of the second. It moved Matt Ineich to second base after he drew a one-out walk. Brock Wills lined into a double play, as the UCF first baseman doubled up Ineich at second base to end the inning.
Cole got his third strikeout of the game in the top of the third inning, as he had another 1-2-3 inning. Wicker tallied a 1-2-3 inning as well, as the Knights took a 1-0 lead into the fourth inning.
Middle innings
Cole continued into the fourth inning, walking the lead-off batter, Williamson. He was caught stealing, however, for the first out of the inning. Cole recorded another strikeout, his fourth in as many innings. Wicker allowed one baserunner in the bottom of the fourth. He walked Paul Schoenfeld, who stole second with two outs. Ineich could not drive him in, though, as he lined out to center field.
Cole struck two batters out in the top of the fifth, which was his last full inning of the game. Wicker gave up his second hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Matthew Robaugh hit a two-out single up the middle, but WVU could not manufacture any runs.
Trouble in the sixth
WVU had a tough sixth inning in the field, highlighted by two errors. Austin Jacobs hit a one-out single to left field for the second UCF hit of the game. Cayden Gaskin followed it with a fielder’s choice to shortstop, but Robaugh could not turn two. He made a poor throw to first base, which got away from Armani Guzman and allowed Gaskin to advance to second base.
Cole intentionally walked Williamson with two outs, which put men on first and second. John Smith III singled up the middle in the following at-bat, but Robaugh’s diving stop kept any runners from scoring. It was Cole’s last batter of the game, as David Perez replaced him.
Perez almost got out of the inning, coming in with the bases loaded. Guzman committed an error fielding a ground ball at first base, which allowed a run to cross the plate. Perez walked in a run and gave up a single to James Hankerson Jr., who pinch-hit. Two runs scored on the single to make it 5-0. Braden Calise, who pinch-ran for Hankerson, advanced to second on a passed ball, putting men on second and third with one out. WVU loaded the bases with an intentional walk of DeAmez Ross. It was also the last batter Perez faced, as Reese Bassinger replaced him. Bassinger got a three-pitch strikeout to end the inning, but UCF capitalized on two WVU errors.
Wicker did not have any trouble in his sixth inning of the game. He got two quick outs and struck out Schoenfeld to end the inning. UCF had a 5-0 lead going into the seventh inning.
Late innings
Bassinger was back on the mound for the top of the seventh inning and allowed a lead-off single to Jacobs. Gaskin attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Bassinger made a quick play and threw out the runner at second base. He got Williamson to line out and struck out Smith to end the inning.
Wicker pitched another great inning in the bottom of the seventh, getting a flyout and two groundouts. Bassinger continued at the top of the eighth and allowed two baserunners. Landon Moran hit a single to left center and hit Calise with a pitch. No runners crossed the plate, and WVU trailed 5-0 going into the bottom of the eighth.
Wills started the inning with a walk, and Robaugh singled to advance Wills to second base. That was Wicker’s last batter faced in the game, producing an excellent outing. He was replaced by Kris Sosnowski, who walked the first batter he faced. Ben Lumsden pinch-hit for Tyrus Hall and loaded the bases. Gavin Kelly hit a sacrifice fly to put a run on the board for WVU, but that was all they managed.
Bassinger finished the game for WVU. He allowed a single to Williamson, but got the other three batters out. Kevin Schoneboom replaced Sosnowski and got the victory for UCF. Ineich tripled to deep left field with one out, but that was the lone hit of the inning. WVU lost the game 5-1 and its first series of the season.
Top performers
- C. Cole (WVU): 5.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 6 K (L)
- C. Wicker (UCF): 7.0 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 6 K (W)
- A. Williamson (UCF): 2-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
What’s next?
WVU returns to action on Tuesday, April 7, as they face Marshall for the second time this season. This time it is at home at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark at 6:30 p.m. Eastern. The Mountaineers continue with Big 12 action over the weekend as they travel to Lubbock, Texas, for a three-game series against Texas Tech.
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